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The Royal Netherlands Marine Corps is the marine corps of the Netherlands. It was founded on 10 December 1665 by the unofficial leader of the republic Johan de Witt and Admiral Michiel de Ruyter.
The Corps celebrates its birthday each year at the Oostplein (lit., East Square) in Rotterdam, where the dead of the Corps are remembered.
It is claimed that the Netherlands Marine Corps is the second oldest military unit in the world that is still in existence (after the Vatican's Swiss Guard).
The current Royal Netherlands Marine Corps has about 3,000 members. Its motto is Qua Patet Orbis (Wherever the World Extends).
Units and structure
All operational units of the Netherlands Marine Corps fall under the Group Operational Units Marines (GOEM):
- First Marine Batallion (1MARNSBAT)
- Second Marine Batallion (2MARNSBAT)
- Third Marine Batallion (3MARNSBAT) (Temporarily disbanded.)
- Combat Support Batallion, consisting of:
- 120 mm Mortar Company
- Anti-aircraft Platoon
- Engineer Reconnaisance Platoon
- Netherlands Marine Corps Special Forces:
- The Special Support Unit Marines (Bijzondere Bijstandseenheid Mariniers)
- Amphibian Reconnaisance Platoon (Combat divers)
- Mountain Leader Reconnaisance Platoon (Mountain and cold weather specialists)
- Logistical Batallion (LOGBAT), including:
- Logistical Company
- Transport Company
- Medical Company (A Field Dressing Station (FDS) - a mobile field hospital - can be formed from this unit.)
- Amphibian Support Batallion (contains all amphibious landing craft as well as the Amphibious Beach Unit), including:
- First Boat Company
- Second Boat Company
United Kingdom/Netherlands Amphibious Force
Since 1973, units of the Netherlands Marine Corps have formed part of the British 3 Commando Brigade during exercises and real conflict situations. Together, these form the UK/NL Landing Force. Either the First or the Second Marine Batallion (each containing about 1000 men) can be assigned as the Dutch contribution to this force.
The cooperation between the RNLMC and the British Royal Marines has led to extensive integration in the areas of operations, logistics and materials. Within NATO this is seen as the prime example of what can be achieved in military integration.
The RNLMC and Royal Marines have a long history of cooperation. During combined actions by the British and Dutch navies during the War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713), amphibious operations were carried out, the most notable being the Siege of Gibraltar in 1704. During this action, a successful attack was carried out against the fortress of Gibraltar by an 1800-strong brigade of Dutch and British Marines under the command of Prince George of Hess-Darmstadt. Both corps share this battle honour.
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